"DoI？"saidhe。
　　"Ofcourse，"wentonTaylorafteramoment，"wehaveastrongpresumptionofconspiracytogetholdofyourBoomCompanystock，whichIbelieveyouputupassecurity。ButIdon’tseehowwehaveanyincontestableproofofit。"
　　"Proof？Whatmoredowewant？"
　　"We’dhavenowitnesstoanyofthesetransactions；norhavewedocumentaryproofs。It’smerelymoralcertainty；andmoralcertaintyisn’tmuchinacourtoflaw。I’llseehim，ifyousayso，though，andscarehimintosomesortofanarrangement。"
　　Ordeshookhishead。
　　"No，"saidhedecidedly。"Rathernot。I’llrunthis。Pleasesaynothing。"
　　"Ofcoursenot！"interjectedTaylor，atrifleindignantly。
　　"AndI’llfigureoutwhatIwanttodo。"
　　OrdepressedTaylortostaytosupper；butthelatterdeclined。
　　Afterafewmoments’conversationongeneraltopicsthelawyertookhisdeparture，secretlymarvellingoverthephlegmaticwayinwhichOrdehadtakenwhathadbeentoTaylor，whenhefirststumbledagainstit，ashockingpieceofnews。
　　XLVII
　　Ordedidnotwishtoreturntotheofficeuntilhehadworkedhisproblemout；so，tolendhisabsencethecolourofnaturalness，hedrovebacknextmorningtothebooms。Therehefoundenoughtokeephimoccupiedallthatdayandthenext。Asinthosetimesthelongdistancetelephonehadnotyetbeenattempted，hewascutofffromcasualcommunicationwiththevillage。Lateintheafternoonhereturnedhome。
　　AtelephonetoCarrollapprisedhimthatallwaswellwithher。A
　　fewmomentslaterthecallsounded，andOrdetookamessagethatcausedhimtolookgraveandtowhistlegentlywithsurprise。HeatesupperwithBobby。Aboutstar—timehetookhishatandwalkedslowlydownthestreetbeneaththevelvetdarknessofthemaples。
　　AtNewmark’sheturnedinbetweentheoleanders。
　　Mallockansweredhisring。
　　"No，sir，Mr。Newmarkisout，sir，"saidMallock。"I’lltellhimyoucalled，sir，"andstartedrespectfullybutfirmlytoclosethedoor。
　　ButOrdethrusthisfootandkneeintheopening。
　　"I’llcomeinandwait，"saidhequietly。
　　"Yes，sir，thisway，sir，"saidMallock，tryingtoindicatethedining—room，wherehewishedOrdetosituntilhecouldcomeathismaster’swishesinthematter。
　　Ordecaughtthearomaoftobaccoandtheglimmeroflighttotheleft。Withoutreplyheturnedtheknobofthedoorandenteredthelibrary。
　　TherehefoundNewmarkineveningdress，seatedinaloweasychairbeneathalamp，smoking，andreadingamagazine。AtOrde’sappearanceinthedoorway，helookedupcalmly，hispaperknifepoised，keepingtheplace。
　　"Oh，it’syou，Orde，"saidhe。
　　"Yourmantoldmeyouwerenotin，"saidOrde。
　　"Hewasmistaken。Won’tyousitdown？"
　　OrdeenteredtheroomandmechanicallyobeyedNewmark’ssuggestion，hismannerpreoccupied。Forsometimehestaredwithwrinkledbrowatapointabovetheilluminationofthelamp。Newmark，overtheendofhiscigar，poisedafootfromhislips，watchedtherivermanwithacoolcalculation。
　　"Newmark，"Ordebeganabruptlyatlast，"Iknowallaboutthisdeal。"
　　"Whatdeal？"askedNewmark，afterabarelyperceptiblepause。
　　"ThisarrangementyoumadewithHeinzman。"
　　"IborrowedsomemoneyfromHeinzmanforthefirm。"
　　"Yes；andyousuppliedthatmoneyyourself。"
　　Newmark’seyesnarrowed，buthesaidnothing。Ordeglancedtowardhim，thenawayagain，asthoughashamed。
　　"Well，"saidNewmarkatlast，"whatofit？"
　　"Ifyouhadthemoneytolendwhydidn’tyoulenditdirect？"
　　"Becauseitlooksbettertomortgagetoanoutsideholder。"
　　AnexpressionofprofounddisgustflittedacrossOrde’scountenance。
　　Newmarksmiledcovertly，andpuffedonceortwicestronglyonhisnearlyextinctcigar。
　　"Thatwasnotthereason，"wentonOrde。"YouagreedwithHeinzmantodividewhenyousucceededinforeclosingmeoutofthetimberlandsgivenassecurity。FurthermoreyouinstructedFloydtogooutontheeveofthatblowinspiteofhiswarnings；andyoucontractedwithMcLeodforthenewvessels；andyou’vetiedusuprightandleftforthesolepurposeofpinchingusdownwherewecouldn’tmeetthosenotes。That’stheonlyreasonyouborrowedtheseventy—fivethousandonyourownaccount；sowecouldn’tborrowittosaveourselves。"
　　"Itstrikesmeyouareinterestingbutinconclusive，"saidNewmark，asOrdepausedagain。
　　"Thatsortofthingissomewhatofafacer，"wentonOrdewithouttheslightestattentiontotheinterjection。"Ittookmesomedaystoworkitoutinallitsdetails；butIbelieveIunderstanditallnow。Idon’tquiteunderstandhowyoudiscoveredaboutmyCaliforniatimber。That’investigation’wasaveryprettymove。"
　　"Howthedevildidyougetontothat？"criedNew-KanbaAPp点com-mark，startledforamomentoutofhiscoolattitudeofcynicalaloofness。
　　"Thenyouacknowledgeit？"shotinOrdequickasaflash。
　　Newmarklaughedinamusement。
　　"Whyshouldn’tI？OfcourseHeinzmanblabbed。Youcouldn’thavegotitallanywhereelse。"
　　Ordearosetohisfeet，andhalfsatagainonthearmofhischair。
　　"NowI’lltellyouwhatwewilldointhismatter，"saidhecrisply。
　　ButNewmarkunexpectedlytooktheaggressive。
　　"We’llfollow，"saidhe，"theoriginalprogramme，aslaiddownbymyself。I’mtiredofdealingwithblunderingfools。Heinzman’smortgagewillbeforeclosed；andyouwillhandoveraspertheagreementyourBoomCompanystock。"
　　Ordestaredathiminamazement。
　　"Imustsayyouhavegoodnerve，"hesaid；"youdon’tseemtorealisethatyouareprettywelltangledup。Idon’tknowwhattheycallit：criminalconspiracy，orsomethingofthatsort，Isuppose。
　　Sofarfromhandingovertoyouthebulkofmyproperty，Icansendyoutothepenitentiary。"
　　"Nonsense，"rejoinedNewmark，leaningforwardinhisturn。"Iknowyoutoowell，JackOrde。You’reafoolofmorekindsthanIcaretocount，andthisisoneofthekinds。Doyouseriouslymeantosaythatyoudaretrytoprosecuteme？Justassureasyoudo，I’llputHeinzmaninthepentoo。I’vegotitonhim，COLD。He’sabribegiver——andsomewhatofacriminalconspiratorhimself。"
　　"Well，"saidOrde。
　　Newmarkleanedbackwithanamusedlittlechuckle。"Ifthemanhadn’tcometoyouandgiventhewholeshowaway，you’dhavelosteverycentyouowned。Hedidyouthebiggestfavourinhispower。
　　AndforyourbenefitI’lltellyouwhatyoucaneasilysubstantiate；
　　Iforcedhimintothisdealwithme。Ihadthisbriberycaseonhim；andinadditionhisownaffairswerealltiedup。"
　　"Iknewthat，"repliedOrde。
　　"Whathadthemantogainbytellingyou？"pursuedNewmark。
　　"Nothingatall。Whathadhetolose？Everything：hisproperty，hissocialposition，hisdaughter’sesteem，whichtheoldfoolholdshigherthananyofthem。Youcouldputmeinthepen，perhaps——withHeinzman’stestimony。ButtheminuteHeinzmanappearsonthestand，I’lllandhimhighanddryandgasping，withoutachancetoflop。"
　　Hepausedamomenttopuffathiscigar。Findingithadgoneout，helaidthebuttcarefullyontheashtrayathiselbow。
　　"I’mnotmuchusedtogivingadvice，"hewenton，"leastofallwhenitisatalllikelytobetaken。ButI’llofferyousome。ThrowHeinzmanover。Lethimgotothepen。He’sbeencrooked，andafool。"
　　"That’swhatyou’ddo，Isuppose，"saidOrde。
　　"Exactlythat。YouowenothingtoHeinzman；butsomethingtowhatyouwouldprobablycallrepentance，butwhichisinrealityamawkishsentimentalityofweakness。However，Iknowyou，JackOrde，fromtoptobottom；andIknowyou’refoolenoughnottodoit。I’msosureofitthatIdareputittoyoustraight；youcouldneverbringyourselftothepointofdestroyingamanwhohadsacrificedhimselfforyou。"
　　"Youseemtohavethisgameallfiguredout，"saidOrdewithcontempt。
　　Newmarkleanedbackinhischair。Twobrightredspotsburnedinhisordinarilysallowcheeks。Hehalfclosedhiseyes。
　　"You’reright，"saidhewithanill—concealedsatisfaction。"Ifyouplayagame，playitthrough。Eachmanisdifferent；foreachadifferenttreatmentisrequired。Thegameisinfinite，wonderful，fascinatingtotheskilful。"HeopenedhiseyesandlookedoveratOrdewithamildcuriosity。"Isupposemenareaboutallofonekindtoyou。"
　　"Two，"saidOrdegrimly；"thehonestmenandthescoundrels。"
　　"Well，"saidtheother，"let’ssettlethisthing。ThefactremainsthatthefirmowesanotetoHeinzman，whichitcannotpay。Youoweanotetothefirmwhichyoucannotpay。Allthismaybeslightlyirregular；butforprivatereasonsyoudonotcaretomakepublictheirregularity。AmIrightsofar？"
　　Orde，whohadbeenwatchinghimwithaslightlysardonicsmile，nodded。
　　"Well，whatIwantoutofthis——"
　　"Youmightheartheotherside，"interruptedOrde。"Inthefirstplace，"saidhe，producingabundleofpapers，"Ihavethenoteandthemortgageinmypossession。"
　　"WhenceHeinzmanwillshortlyrescuethem，assoonasIgettoseehim，"counteredNewmark。"YouacknowledgethatIcanforceHeinzman；andyoucanhardlyrefusehim。"
　　"IfyouforceHeinzman，he’lllandyou，"Ordepointedout。
　　"ThereisCanadaforme，withnoextradition。Hetravelswithheavierbaggage。Ihavethebettertrumps。"
　　"You’dloseeverything。"
　　"Notquite，"smiledNewmark。"And，asusual，youareforgettingthepersonalequation。Heinzmanis——Heinzman。AndIamI。"
　　"ThenIsupposethisaffidavitfromHeinzmanastothedetailsofallthisisuselessforthesamereason？"
　　Newmark’sthinlipspartedinanothersmile。
　　"Correct，"saidhe。
　　"Butyou’rereadytocompromisebelowthefaceofthenote？"
　　"Iam。"
　　"Why？"
　　Newmarkhesitated。
　　"I’lltellyou，"saidhe；"becauseIknowyouwellenoughtorealisethatthereisapointwhereyourloyaltytoHeinzmanwouldstepasideinfavourofyourloyaltytoyourfamily。"
　　"Andyouthinkyouknowwherethatpointis？"
　　"It’sthebasisofmycompromise。"
　　Ordebegansoftlytolaugh。"Newmark，you’reascleverasthedevil，"saidhe。"Butaren’tyouafraidtolayoutyourcardsthisway？"
　　"Notwithyou，"repliedNewmark，boldly；"withanybodyelseonearth，yes。Withyou，no。"
　　Ordecontinuedtolaugh，stillinthelowundertone。
　　"Theworstofitis，Ibelieveyou’reright，"saidheatlast。"Youhavethethingsizedup；andthereisn’taflawinyourreasoning。
　　Ialwayssaidthatyouwerethebrainsofthisconcern。Ifitwerenotforonething，I’dcompromisesure；andthatonethingwasbeyondyourpowertoforesee。"
　　Hepaused。Newisark’seyeshalf—closedagain，inaquickd’artingeffortofhisbraintorunbackoveralltheelementsofthegamehewasplaying。Ordewaitedinpatienceforhimtospeak。
　　"Whatisit？"askedNewmarkatlast。"Heinzmandiedofsmallpoxatfouro’clockthisafternoon，"saidOrde。
　　XLVIII
　　Newmarkdidnotalterhisattitudenorhisexpression，buthisfaceslowlywentgray。Forafullminutehesatabsolutelymotionless，hisbreathcomingandgoingnoisilythroughhiscontractednostrils。
　　Thenhearosegropinglytohisfeet，andstartedtowardoneofthetwodoorsleadingfromtheroom。
　　"Whereareyougoing？"askedOrdequietly。
　　Newmarksteadiedhimselfwithaneffort。
　　"I’mgoingtogetmyselfadrinkinmybedroom，"hesnapped。"Anyobjections？"
　　"No，"repliedOrde。"None。Afteryougetyourdrink，comeback。I
　　wanttotalktoyou。"
　　Newmarksnarledathim："Youneedn’tbeafraidI’llrunaway。How’dIgetoutoftown？"
　　"Iknowitwouldn’tpayyoutorunaway，"saidOrde。
　　Newmarkpassedoutthroughthedoor。OrdelookedthoughtfullyatHeinzman’saffidavit，which，dulydisinfected，hadbeenhandedhimbyDr。McMullenasimportant；andthrustitandtheotherpapersintohisinsidepocket。ThenhearosetohisfeetandglidedsoftlyacrosstheroomtotakeapositionclosetothedoorthroughwhichNewmarkhaddepartedinquestofhisdrink。Forahalfminutehewaited。Finallythedoorswungbrisklyinward。Likeapanther，asquicklyandasnoiselessly，Ordesprangforward。Ashortbutdecisivestruggleensued。InlessthantensecondsOrdehadpinionedNewmark’sarmstohissidewhereheheldthemimmovablewithoneofhisown。TheotherhandherandownNewmark’srightarmtothepocket。Therefollowedaninstantofsilentresistance。
　　ThenwithasharpcryofmingledangerandpainNewmarksnatchedhishandoutandgazedatrifleamazedlyatthehalfcrushedfingers。
　　OrdedrewforththerevolverNewmarkhadgraspedconcealedinthecoatpocket。
　　Withouthesitationheclosedandlockedthebedroomdoor；turnedthekeyinthelockoftheother；triedandfastenedthewindow。Therevolverheopened；spilledoutthecartridgesintohishand；andthentossedtheemptyweapontoNewmark，whohadsunkintothechairbythelamp。
　　"There’syourplaything，"saidhe。"Soyouwantedthataffidavit，didyou？Nowwehavetheplacetoourselves；andwe’llthreshthismatterout。"
　　Hepaused，collectinghisthoughts。
　　"Idon’tneedtotellyouthatI’vegotyouaboutwhereyoulive，"
　　saidhefinally。"NorwhatIthinkofyou。Thecaseisopenandshut；andIcansendyouovertheroadforthebestpartofyournaturaldays。AlsoI’vegotthesenotesandthemortgage。"
　　"Quitit，"growledNewmark，"you’vegotme。Sendmeup；andbedamned。"
　　"That’sthequestion，"wentonOrdeslowly。"I’vebeenatitthreedays，withoutmuchtimeoffforsleep。Youhurtmeprettybad，Joe。
　　Itrustedyou；andIthoughtofyouasafriend。"
　　Newmarkstirredslightlywithimpatience。
　　"Ihadahardtimegettingoverthatpartofit；andaboutthree—
　　quartersofwhatwasleftintheworldlookedmightylikeashesforawhile。ThenIbegantoseethisthingalittleclearer。We’vebeentogetheragoodmanyyearsnow；andasnearasIcanmakeoutyou’vebeenstraightasastringwithmeforeightofthem。ThenI
　　supposethechancecameandbeforeyouknewityouwereinoveryourneck。"
　　Helooked，half—pleadingtowardNewmark。Newmarkmadenosign。
　　"Iknowthat’sthewayitmightbe。Amanthinkshe’smightybrave；
　　andsoheis，aslongashecanseewhat’scoming，andgetreadyforit。Butsomedayanemergencyjustcomesupandtoucheshimontheshoulder，andheturnsaroundandseesitallofasudden。Thenhefindshe’sacoward。It’sprettyhardformetounderstanddishonesty，orhowamancanbedishonest。I’vetried，butIcan’tdoit。Crookednessisn’tmyparticularkindoffault。ButIdoknowthis：thatweeveryoneofushavesomethingtobeforgivenforbysomeone。IguessI’vegotatemperthatmakesmeprettysorrysometimes。Probablyyoudon’tseehowit’spossibleforamantogetcrazymadaboutlittlethings。Thatisn’tyourparticularkindoffault。"
　　"Oh，forGod’ssake，dropthatpreaching。Itmakesmesick！"brokeoutNewmark。
　　Ordesmiledwhimsically。
　　"I’mnotpreaching，"hesaid；"andevenifIwere，I’vepaidagoodmanythousandsofdollars，itseems，tobuytherighttosaywhatI
　　damnplease。AndifyouthinkI’mworkinguptoaChristianforgivenessracket，you’reverymuchmistaken。I’mnot。Idon’tforgiveyou；andIsurelydespiseyoursort。ButI’mexplainingtoyou——no，tomyself——justwhatI’vebeenatforthreedays。"
　　"Well，turnmeovertoyoursheriff，andlet’sgetthroughwiththis，"saidNewmarksullenly。"Isupposeyou’vegotthatpartofitallfixed。"
　　Orderose。
　　"Lookhere，Newmark，that’sjustwhatI’vebeencomingto，justwhatI’vehadsuchahardtimetogetholdof。Ifeltit，butIcouldn’tputmyfingeronit。NowIknow。I’mnotgoingtohandyouovertoanysheriff；I’mgoingtoletyouoff。No，"hecontinued，inresponsetoNewmark’slookofincredulousamazement，"itisn’tfromanyfoolnotionofforgiveness。ItoldyouIdidn’tforgiveyou。
　　ButI’mnotgoingtoburdenmyfuturelifewithyou。That’sjustplain，ordinaryselfishness。IsupposeIreallyoughttojugyou；
　　butifIdo，I’llalwayscarrywithmethethoughtthatI’vetakenitonmyselftojudgeaman。AndIdon’tbelieveanymaniscompetenttojudgeanother。Itoldyouwhy——ortriedto——aminuteorsoago。I’velivedclean，andI’veenjoyedtheworldasacleanopen—airsortofproposition——likeawindyday——andIalwayshopeto。I’dratherdropthiswholematter。InashorttimeI’dforgetyou；you’dpassoutofmylifeentirely。Butifwecarrythisthingthroughtoafinish，I’dalwayshavethethoughtwithmethatI’dputyouinthepen；thatyouaretherenow。Idon’tlikethenotion。I’dratherfinishthisuprighthereandnowandgetitoveranddonewithandtakeafreshstart。"Hepausedandwipedhisbrow，wetwiththeunusualexertionofthisself—analysis。"Ithinkafellowoughttoactalwaysasifhewasmakingtheworld。Heoughttotrynottoputthingsinitthataregoingtomakeitanunpleasantoranevilworld。Wedon’talwaysdoit；butweoughttotry。NowifIweremakingaworld，Iwouldn’tputamaninapenitentiaryinit。Ofcoursethere’sdangerouscriminals。"HeglancedatNewmarkalittleanxiously。"Idon’tbelieyeyou’rethat。You’resharpanddishonest，andneedpunishment；butyoudon’tneedextinction。Anyway，I’mnotgoingtobothermyfuturewithyou。"
　　Newmark，whohadlistenedtothislongandramblingexpositionwithincreasingcuriosityandinterest，brokeintoashortlaugh。
　　"You’veconvictedme，"hesaid。"I’mamostawfulfailure。I
　　thoughtIknewyou；butthispassesallbelief。"
　　Ordebrushedthisspeechasideasirrelevant。
　　"Ourassociation，ofcourse，comestoanend。Thereremainthetermsofsettlement。Icouldfireyououtofthiswithoutacent，andyou’dhavetogit。Butthatwouldn’tbefair。Idon’tgiveadamnforyou；butitwouldn’tbefairtome。NowasfortheNorthernPeninsulatimber，youhavehadseventy—fivethousandoutofthatandhavelentmethesameamount。Callthatquits。Iwilltakeupyournotewhenitcomesdue；anddestroytheonegiventoHeinzman。ForallyourholdingsinourcommonbusinessIwillgiveyoumynotewithoutinterestandwithouttimeforonehundredthousanddollars。Thatisnotitsfacevalue，noranythinglikeit，butyouhavecausedmedirectlyandindirectlyconsiderableloss。I
　　don’tknowhowsoonIcanpaythisnote；butitwillbepaid。"
　　"Allright，"agreedNewmark。
　　"Doesthatsatisfyyou？"
　　"Isupposeit’sgotto。"
　　"Verywell。Ihavethepapershereallmadeout。Theyneedsimplytobesignedandwitnessed。Timbullisthenearestnotary。"
　　Heunlockedtheoutsidedoor。
　　"Come，"saidhe。
　　Insilencethetwowalkedtheblockandahalftothenotary’shouse。HeretheywereforcedtowaitsometimewhileTimbulldressedhimselfandcalledthenecessarywitnesses。Finallythepaperswereexecuted。InthestreetNewmarkpausedsignificantly。
　　ButOrdedidnottakethehint。
　　"Areyoucomingwithme？"askedNewmark。
　　"Iam，"repliedOrde。"Thereisonethingmore。"
　　Insilenceoncemoretheyreturnedtotheshadowylowlibraryfilledwithitsevidencesofgoodtaste。Newmarkthrewhimselfintothearmchair。Hewasquiterecovered，onceagaintheimperturbable，coldlycalculating，cynicalobserver。Orderelockedthedoor，andturnedtofacehim。
　　"Youhavefivedaystoleavetown，"hesaidcrisply。"Don’tevershowuphereagain。Letmehaveyouraddressforthepaymentofthisnote。"
　　Hetooktwostepsforward。
　　"I’veletyouofffromthepenbecauseIdidn’twantmylifebotheredwiththethoughtofyou。Butyou’vetreatedmelikeahound。I’vebeenloyaltothefirm’sinterestsfromthestart；andI’vedonemybestbyit。Youknifedmeintheback。You’readirty，low—livedskunk。Ifyouthinkyou’regoingtogetoffscot—
　　free，you’remightilymistaken。"
　　Headvancedtwostepsmore。Newmarkhalfarose。
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"heaskedinsomealarm。
　　"ImeanthatI’mgoingtogiveyouabouttheworstlickingyoueverheardTELLof，"repliedOrde，buttoninghiscoat。
　　XLIX
　　FiveminuteslaterOrdeemergedfromNewmark’shouse，softlyrubbingthepalmofonehandovertheknucklesoftheother。Atthefrontgatehepausedtolookupatthestars。Thenheshutitdecisivelybehindhim。
　　Upthroughthemapleshadedstreetshewalkedatabriskpace，breathingdeep，unconsciouslysquaringbackhisshoulders。Theincidentwasbehindhim。Inhischaracteristicdecisivemannerhehadwipedthewholedisagreeableaffairofftheslate。Thecopartnershipwithitsgainsandlosses，itsstrugglesandeasysailingwasathingofthepast。Onlythereremained，asafterafloodthesediment，afinalresultofitall，thebalancebetweensuccessesandfailures，agroundbeneaththefeetofnewaspirations。OrdehadtheNorthernPeninsulatimber；theBoomCompany；andthecarryingtrade。Theywereallburdenedwithdebt，itistrue，buttherivermanfeltsurgingwithinhimthereawakenedandpowerfulenergyforwhichoptimismisanothername。Hesawstretchingbeforehimalonglifeofendeavour，thesortofendeavourheenjoyed，exultedin；andinithewouldbeuntrammelledandalone。Theideaappealedtohim。Suddenlyhewasimpatientforthemorrowthathemightbegin。
　　Heturnedoutofthesidestreet。Hisownhouselaybeforehim，darksaveforthegasjetinthehallwayandthesinglelampinthelibrary。Aharmonyofsoftlytouchedchordsbreathedoutthroughtheopenwindow。Hestopped；thenstoleforwardsoftlyuntilhestoodlookinginthroughthedoorway。
　　Carrollsatleaningagainstthegoldenharp，hershiningheadwiththesoftshadowsbentuntilitalmosttouchedthestrings。Herhandswerestrayingidlyoveraccustomedchordsandrichmodulations，theplaintivehalf—musicofreverie。Asoftlightfellonherslenderfigure；halfrevealedtheovalofhercheekandthesweepofherlashes。
　　Ordecrepttoherunheard。Gentlyheclaspedherfrombehind。
　　Unsurprisedsherelinquishedtheharpstringsandsankbackagainsthisbreastwithahappylittlesigh。
　　"Kindoffunbeingmarried，isn’tit，sweetheart？"herepeatedtheirquaintformula。
　　"Kindof，"shereplied；andraisedherfacetohis。
　　THEEND